Method for organizing cables in a cabinet to reduce impeded airflow

ABSTRACT

An equipment cabinet ( 2 ) includes an equipment rack ( 3 ) for mounting equipment ( 20 ), and includes organizational elements for organizing cables within the cabinet. The cables may be organized to reduce impeding airflow to or from the equipment, and/or to reduce unwanted bending of the cables themselves. The organizational elements may include one or more of: a trunk cable ( 40 ) including a furcation plug ( 45 ) and universal clip ( 47 ); a furcation bracket—either vertical ( 60 ) or horizontal ( 80 ); a termination panel ( 100 ); a trunk cable manager ( 140, 200 ); and/or an accessory bracket ( 180 ). The organizational elements may be used in various combinations with one another, and may be provided in a kit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a U.S. divisional patent application of, andclaims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to, U.S. patent application Ser.No. 12/350,027, filed Jan. 7, 2009, which published as U.S. patentapplication publication number US 2009/0273915 A1 on Nov. 5, 2009, andwhich '027 application is a U.S. nonprovisional patent application of,and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to, each of:

-   -   (a) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/019,596,        filed Jan. 7, 2008;    -   (b) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/019,592,        filed Jan. 7, 2008;    -   (c) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/010,807,        filed Jan. 11, 2008; and    -   (d) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/020,741,        filed Jan. 13, 2008.

Each of the foregoing patents, patent applications, and patentapplication publications is expressly incorporated by reference hereinin its entirety.

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT

All of the material in this patent document is subject to copyrightprotection under the copyright laws of the United States and of othercountries. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimilereproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure,as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records,but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to equipment cabinets that mounttelecommunication equipment and, more particularly, to systems andorganizational elements for supporting cables and similar structures inan electronic equipment cabinet.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Frames and cabinets for mounting and storing electronic components havebeen well known for many years. Frames are typically simple rectangularframeworks on which electronic components may be mounted, or on whichother mounting members, such as shelves or brackets, may be mountedwhich in turn may support the electronic components. Cabinets aretypically frames on which panels or doors, or both, are hung to provideaesthetic improvement, to protect the components from externalinfluences, to provide security for the components stored inside, or forother reasons.

Frames and cabinets (sometimes collectively referred to hereinafter as“enclosures”) have been built in many different sizes and with manydifferent proportions in order to best accommodate the components whichthey are designed to store. Components stored in these enclosures mayinclude audio and video equipment and the like, but quite frequentlyinclude computer equipment and related peripheral devices. Regardless ofthe component type, each component typically requires an external powersupply and a plurality of input and output cables, wires and the like(generally referred to hereinafter as “cables”). Some of these wires andcables are connected to other components in the same enclosure, and someof which extend out of the enclosure to either an adjacent enclosure orto a remote location, typically using either an overhead cabling systemor an under-floor cabling system.

Apparatuses for routing cables and wires to and from the equipment arealso well known. These cables are generally routed in the verticaldirection to a point adjacent to the desired equipment and then routedin the horizontal direction to the desired equipment. A particularproblem inherent in the use of enclosures of all kinds is the issue ofhow to route and otherwise manage the large quantities of cables thatare often necessary for a particular enclosure.

A type of cable often used in computer network settings is opticalfiber. Optical fibers sometimes have unique problems associated withrouting and managing the large quantity thereof in enclosures.

A brief general summary of optical fibers may be helpful inunderstanding the disclosure contained herein. Regarding optical fibers,a single cable may house a single optical fiber or a single cable mayhouse multiple optical fibers. A cable housing many optical fibers maybe referred to as a trunk cable. A trunk cable may be used tointerconnect different system equipment. A furcation plug is often usedto furcate or spread apart the individual optical fibers in a cablehousing multiple optical fibers. The individual optical fibers may thenbe terminated with a connector to allow for connection to equipmentand/or other optical fibers.

Optical fibers are often used in computer network settings because oftheir ability to quickly transmit data. An optical fiber is a glass orplastic fiber designed to guide light along its length. Because of theway in which optical fiber transmits data, joining lengths of opticalfiber is more complex than joining electrical wire or cable. Moreparticularly, the ends of the fibers need to be carefully cleaved, andthen spliced together either mechanically or by fusing them togetherwith an electric arc in order for light to continue to travel along thelength of the optical fiber. Special optical fiber connectors are usedto enable removable connections between multiple optical fibers.

An optical fiber connector terminates the end of an optical fiber andenables quick connection and disconnection of the optical fiber. Theconnector mechanically couples and aligns the core of the fiber so thatlight can pass therethrough. Many types of optical fiber connectors areavailable. Connectors may be single fiber connectors or multiple fiberconnectors.

By using multiple fiber connectors, the number of fibers carried by eachcable may be increased thereby reducing the total number of cables beingrouted through a cabinet. For example, by using a 12-fiber MTPconnector, the number of fiber cables may be reduced from six LC duplexfiber cables to one 12-fiber MTP cable assembly, i.e., 6 cables carryingtwo fibers each may be reduced to 1 cable carrying 12 fibers by using anMTP connector.

Unfortunately, one of the fundamental challenges for high densitystorage area networks is the large volume of optical fiber cable andpatch cords that must be managed in cabinets which house large, modular(core) switches, or other equipment. Typically, an enclosure will housetwo core switches. If each of the switches is fully populated withoptical fibers, there may be hundreds or thousands of optical fibersattached to the two switches. It is readily apparent that such fibervolume concentrated along the sides of the cabinets can quickly becomecongested and disorganized causing problems with enclosure thermalmanagement, blocking airflow, increasing risk of unwanted bending of thecables, and making it difficult to administer networking moves, adds andchanges. Further, this congestion reduces accessibility to theequipment, creates a mass of cable that is difficult to work with, andincreases the cost of implementing routine changes to the network.

Current solutions to the fiber congestion problem involve fiberconnectors, such as the MTP connector mentioned above, that reduce thenumber of fiber cables present in the enclosure. However, fiberconnectors are typically housed in the rack-mount space of the enclosureand utilize either fiber housings or fiber panels to accommodate thefiber connectors. This solution consumes valuable rack-mount spacewithin the enclosure that could be used to house electronic equipment.Further, housing fiber connectors in the rack-mount space increasesoptical fiber congestion by requiring the optical fibers to enter backinto the rack-mount space after they have exited such space when leavingthe core switches, i.e., typically optical fiber is routed away from acore switch in the rack-mount space into side panel space of anenclosure and then routed back to a fiber connector in the rack-mountspace. For a fully populated core switch, this is approximately 1000optical fibers being routed away from the core switch in the rack-mountspace into the side panel space of an enclosure and then routed backinto the rack-mount space to join with a fiber connector.

In other instances, fiber connectors have been placed in the enclosureside panel space. However, currently available connectors that may bemounted in the side space are restricted to fixed locations and lowcapacities by the limitations of the fixed brackets that are currentlyavailable. Available fiber connectors that are mounted in cabinet sidespace rely on purpose-built brackets with little or no flexibility inlocation, capacity, or functionality. These brackets typically allow formounting existing fiber connectors in fixed locations with little or nosupport for fiber trunk cabling.

A solution is needed that improves optical fiber organization andreduces fiber congestion. Ideally, such solution will be simple, yetversatile, so that it may be used in a variety of enclosures and inmultiple network or server settings. It would also be beneficial forsuch solution to provide improved fiber trunk cable routing.

SUMMARY

An equipment cabinet includes a rack having a central rack space formounting equipment, for example telecommunications equipment, whereinthe equipment is connected to a network by cables. The equipment cabinetfurther includes organizational elements for mounting the cables so asto organize the cables within the cabinet, outside the central rackspace. The cables may be organized to reduce impeding airflow to or fromthe equipment in the cabinet, and/or to reduce unwanted bending of thecables themselves, as the unwanted bending of the cables may causenetwork degradation or even failure. Further, the organization of thecables facilitates installation, moves, adds, and changes, of the cablesand equipment within the cabinet. The organizational elements formounting the cables may include one or more of: a trunk cable includinga furcation plug and universal clip; a furcation bracket (eithervertical or horizontal); a termination panel; a trunk cable manager;and/or an accessory bracket. The organizational elements may be used invarious combinations with one another, depending upon the needs withinthe equipment cabinet, and may be provided in a kit. By providing theorganizational elements in a kit, the user is guaranteed that theorganizational elements will assemble and work together withoutattempting to cross-reference component specification sheets or have tofield trial compatibility, which takes considerable time and money.

According to one aspect, there is provided a method of routing a cablein an equipment cabinet to reduce impeding airflow to or from equipmentmounted in a central rack space of an equipment rack in the equipmentcabinet. The equipment includes a wall with an airflow opening therein,and the method includes supporting the cable at a first point adjacentto the wall and on a first side of the airflow opening, supporting thecable at a second point adjacent to the wall and on a second side of theairflow opening, wherein the first and second points are disposedoutside of the central rack space. And routing the cable from the firstpoint to the second point so as not to cross the airflow opening.

The cable may include a furcation plug and a furcation leg extendingfrom the furcation plug. The furcation plug is coupled to a furcationbracket at the first point and the furcation bracket is coupled to theequipment rack, and further wherein the furcation leg is coupled to atermination panel at the second point and the termination panel iscoupled to the equipment rack. As an alternative to the terminationpanel, or in addition thereto, an accessory bracket coupled to the rackmay be used to provide the second point of support for the furcationcable.

The termination panel may further include an attachment portion disposedin a first plane and coupled to the equipment rack, a socket mountingportion having a socket, and a coupling portion. The coupling portioncouples the socket mounting portion to the attachment portion so thatthe socket mounting portion is offset from the first plane. Thefurcation leg is then coupled to the socket.

According to another aspect, there is provided an equipment cabinethaving its cables organized to facilitate moves, adds, or changes, aswell as to avoid unwanted bending of the cables.

The equipment cabinet includes an equipment rack having a central rackspace. A furcation bracket is coupled to the equipment rack. A trunkcable having a furcation plug is coupled to the furcation bracket sothat the furcation plug is outside the central rack space. A trunk cablemanager is coupled to the equipment rack outside the central rack spaceand includes a first planar portion. The first planar portion supportsthe trunk cable at a point adjacent to the furcation plug.

The trunk cable manager may further include a second planar portioncoupled to the first planar portion by an angled portion, wherein thefirst planar portion supports the trunk cable at a first distance fromthe furcation bracket, the second planar portion supports the trunkcable at a second distance from the furcation bracket, and wherein thesecond distance is greater than the first distance.

The second planar portion of the trunk cable manager may further includeeither a trough portion, or slots for supporting the trunk cable at anadditional point.

The furcation plug may be coupled to the furcation bracket by auniversal clip. The universal clip includes a first locking member, anda second locking member. The spacing between the locking member ismatched to that between pairs of slots in the furcation bracket so as toprovide flexibility in mounting the furcation plug in the cabinet.

The termination panel may include an attachment portion, a socketmounting portion, and a coupling portion. The attachment portion isdisposed in a first plane and is coupled to the equipment rack so thatthe termination panel is disposed outside the central rack space. Thesocket mounting portion includes a socket, and the coupling portioncouples the socket mounting portion to the attachment portion so thatthe socket mounting portion is offset from the first plane. Further, thefurcation leg is coupled to the socket.

The termination panel may have only a specified number of sockets,wherein the specified number corresponds to a specified number ofconnectors in one piece of equipment.

According to yet another aspect, there is provided a kit of components,for organizing cables in an equipment cabinet including an equipmentrack having a central rack space. The kit includes a trunk cable, afurcation bracket, a termination panel, and a trunk cable manager. Thetrunk cable includes a furcation plug having locking members spaced fromone another by a first length, furcation legs extending from thefurcation plug, and connectors coupled to the furcation legs. Thefurcation bracket includes either a row or a column of pairs of slots,wherein the slots in each of the pairs of slots are spaced from oneanother by a second length, and the second length is substantially equalto the first length for receiving the locking members of the furcationplug. The termination panel includes an opening for receiving socketssized to receive the connectors on the furcation legs. The terminationpanel is sized to be disposed in the equipment cabinet outside thecentral rack space. The trunk cable manager includes a first planarportion for supporting the trunk cable at a first point, and a secondplanar portion for supporting the trunk cable at a second point, whereinthe first and second planar portions are connected by an angled portionwhereby the first and second planar portions are not coplanar.

The trunk cable manager may include a plurality of slots disposed in thefirst planar portion and sized to receive fastening members for holdingthe trunk cable.

The trunk cable manager further may include a plurality of slotsdisposed in the second planar portion and sized to receive fasteningmembers for holding the trunk cable. Alternatively, the second planarportion may further include a trough for supporting the trunk cable.

The kit of components may further include an accessory bracket havingpairs of mounting holes therein. The mounting holes in each pair arespaced from one another by a first distance. The termination panel maythen also include mounting holes, wherein the mounting holes in thetermination panel are spaced from one another by a second distance,which is substantially equal to the first distance.

The accessory bracket may further include a plurality of slots sized toreceive fastening members for holding the trunk cable.

The present invention according to another aspect is an equipmentcabinet including an equipment rack including a central rack space; acable manager, having a first planar portion, coupled to the equipmentrack outside the central rack space; a furcation bracket, having asecond planar portion, coupled to the equipment rack such that thesecond planar portion is parallel with the first planar portion; and acable having a first segment, a second segment and a third segment, thefirst segment of the cable being routed vertically along the cablemanager, the second segment of the cable being supported by the firstplanar portion of the cable manager, and the third segment of the cablebeing routed horizontally and supported by the second planar portion ofthe furcation bracket.

In a feature of this aspect, the cable manager extends substantially theheight of the equipment rack.

In a further feature of this aspect, the furcation bracket is a verticalfurcation bracket.

In a further feature of this aspect, the vertical furcation bracketextends substantially the height of the equipment rack.

In a further feature of this aspect, the vertical furcation bracketextends substantially the height of the cable manager.

In a further feature of this aspect, the cable manager defines a troughfor retaining the first segment of the cable therein.

In a further feature of this aspect, the trunk has a J-shapedcross-section.

The present invention according to another aspect is an equipmentcabinet including an equipment rack having a central rack space; a cablemanager, having a first planar portion, coupled to the equipment rackoutside the central rack space; a vertical furcation bracket, having asecond planar portion, coupled to the equipment rack such that thesecond planar portion is parallel with the first planar portion; ahorizontal furcation bracket, having a third planar portion, coupled tothe equipment rack such that the third planar portion is parallel withthe first and second planar portions; and a cable having a first segmentand a second segment, the first segment of the cable being routedvertically along the cable manager, and the second segment of the cablebeing supported by at least one of the second and third planar portions.

In features of this aspect, the cable is supported by both the secondand third planar portions.

In a further feature of this aspect, the equipment cabinet furtherincludes a cable clip, supporting the cable, adapted to mount to auser-selected one of the vertical furcation bracket and the horizontalfurcation bracket.

In a further feature of this aspect, the cable includes a furcationplug, and the clip is mounted to the furcation plug.

In a further feature of this aspect, the clip includes locking membersadapted to be clipped into a user-selected one of the vertical furcationbracket and the horizontal furcation bracket.

The present invention according to another aspect is an equipmentcabinet including an equipment cabinet, having a rack including aplurality of vertical frame members, a side panel, a central rack spacewithin the vertical frame members, and a side panel space definedbetween one or more vertical frame members and the side panel; avertical cable manager, disposed in the side panel space, having avertically-oriented first planar portion mounted against one of thevertical frame members, an angled portion that angles away from thefirst planar portion, a vertically-oriented second planar portion havingfirst and second opposed sides, the first side being connected to theangled portion such that the first and second planar portions are notcoplanar, and a vertically-oriented trough connected to the second sideof the second planar portion; and a cable having a first segment and asecond segment, the first segment being routed vertically within thetrough, the cable being supported by the first planar portion at aportion intermediate the first segment and the second segment, and thesecond segment of the cable being routed horizontally through the sidepanel space.

In features of this aspect, the vertical cable manager is disposedadjacent a rear of the equipment cabinet.

In a further feature of this aspect, the cable is routed horizontallyfrom the vertical cable manager toward the front of the cabinet

In a further feature of this aspect, the cabinet further includes afurcation bracket disposed in the side panel space.

In a further feature of this aspect, the cable is routed horizontallyfrom the vertical cable manager toward the furcation bracket.

In a further feature of this aspect, the furcation bracket is a verticalfurcation bracket.

In a further feature of this aspect, the furcation bracket is ahorizontal furcation bracket.

In a further feature of this aspect, the furcation bracket compriseseither a row or a column of pairs of slots.

In a further feature of this aspect, the cable includes a furcation plugadapted to attach to the furcation bracket.

In a further feature of this aspect, the furcation plug has lockingmembers spaced from one another by a first length, furcation legsextending from the furcation plug, and connectors coupled to thefurcation legs; and the slots in each of the pairs of slots in thefurcation bracket are spaced from one another by a second length,wherein the second length is substantially equal to the first length forreceiving the locking members of the furcation plug.

The present invention according to another aspect is an equipmentcabinet having a fiber management system, including an equipmentcabinet, having a rack including a plurality of vertical frame members,a side panel, a central rack space within the vertical frame members,and a side panel space defined between one or more vertical framemembers and the side panel, the side panel space having opposing endsadjacent the front and rear of the equipment cabinet, respectively; afiber management system, disposed in the side panel space, having avertical cable manager disposed in a first of the opposing ends of theside panel space, a furcation bracket, and an elongate accessorybracket, mounted to the equipment rack in a second of the opposing endsof the side panel space and extending substantially the height of theequipment rack, having a plurality of fiber management accessoriesmounted thereon; and a cable having a first segment routed vertically inthe vertical cable manager, a second segment supported by the furcationbracket, and a third segment supported by at least one of the fibermanagement accessories.

In a feature of this aspect, the plurality of fiber managementaccessories include a termination panel comprising an opening forreceiving sockets sized to receive connectors on furcation legs of atrunk cable, wherein the termination panel is sized to be disposed inthe equipment cabinet outside the central rack space.

In a further feature of this aspect, the plurality of fiber managementaccessories include a fiber module bracket adapted to support atermination panel comprising an opening for receiving sockets.

In a further feature of this aspect, the plurality of fiber managementaccessories include a fiber retaining spool.

In a further feature of this aspect, the fiber retaining spool is arotating spool.

In a further feature of this aspect, the fiber retaining spool includesa shaft and an arm extending from a distal end thereof

In a further feature of this aspect, the elongate accessory bracket is arail having a. C-shaped cross-section and includes first and secondparallel legs extending from a back plate.

In a further feature of this aspect, the first leg of the rail includesa column of evenly-spaced openings for mounting the fiber managementaccessories to the accessory bracket.

In a further feature of this aspect, the furcation bracket is a verticalfurcation bracket, and wherein the fiber management system furtherincludes a horizontal furcation bracket.

In a further feature of this aspect, the rack includes a front-sidevertical member and a rear-side vertical member, wherein the elongateaccessory bracket is coupled to the front-side vertical member, whereinthe vertical cable manager is coupled to the rear-side vertical member,and wherein the furcation bracket is disposed between the vertical cablemanager and the elongate accessory bracket.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe detailed description which follows, and in part will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art from the description or recognizedby practicing the invention as described in the written description andclaims hereof, as well as the appended drawings.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are merely exemplary of theinvention, and are intended to provide an overview or framework tounderstanding the nature and character of the invention as it isclaimed.

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of principles of the invention, and are incorporated inand constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate oneor more embodiment(s), and together with the description serve toexplain the principles and operation of the invention. It is to beunderstood that the various features of the invention disclosed in thisspecification and in the drawings can be used in any and allcombinations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a right side view of a fiber management system, in accordancewith one or more preferred embodiments, installed in an electronicequipment cabinet.

FIG. 1A is an isometric view of a fiber management system, also inaccordance with one or more preferred embodiments, installed in asimilar electronic equipment cabinet to that of FIG. 1.

FIG. 1B is a right side view of the fiber management system andelectronic equipment cabinet of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is an enlarged top plan view of the fiber management system andelectronic equipment cabinet of FIG. 1B, shown with the top panelremoved and the location of the right side panel shown in broken lines.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a trunk cable.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a furcation plug and universal clip of thetrunk cable.

FIG. 3A is an isometric view of some of the elements of the fibermanagement system of FIG. 1A, shown in isolation from the equipmentcabinet.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a vertical furcation bracket.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a horizontal furcation bracket.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a termination panel.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the termination panel in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a termination panel according toanother embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a right side view of the vertical trunk cable manager of FIG.3A.

FIG. 10 is a top cross-sectional view of the vertical trunk cablemanager in FIG. 9, taken along line 10-10.

FIG. 10A is an isometric view of the vertical trunk cable manager ofFIG. 3A.

FIG. 11 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of a trunk cablemanager.

FIG. 12 is a top cross-sectional view of the trunk cable manager of FIG.11, taken along line 12-12.

FIG. 13 is an isometric view of the accessory bracket of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 14 is a top view of a trunk cable coupled to components in anequipment cabinet of FIG. 1, taken along line 14-14.

FIG. 15 is an isometric view of the vertical accessory rail and fibermanagement accessories of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary isometric view of the verticalaccessory rail of FIG. 15 with a fiber module bracket attached thereto.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged isometric view of the fiber module bracket ofFIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary isometric view of the verticalaccessory rail of FIG. 15 with a rotating fiber retaining spool attachedthereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As a preliminary matter, it will readily be understood by one havingordinary skill in the relevant art (“Ordinary Artisan”) that the presentinvention has broad utility and application. Furthermore, any embodimentdiscussed and identified as being “preferred” is considered to be partof a best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention.Other embodiments also may be discussed for additional illustrativepurposes in providing a full and enabling disclosure of the presentinvention. Moreover, many embodiments, such as adaptations, variations,modifications, and equivalent arrangements, will be implicitly disclosedby the embodiments described herein and fall within the scope of thepresent invention.

Accordingly, while the present invention is described herein in detailin relation to one or more embodiments, it is to be understood that thisdisclosure is illustrative and exemplary of the present invention, andis made merely for the purposes of providing a full and enablingdisclosure of the present invention. The detailed disclosure herein ofone or more embodiments is not intended, nor is to be construed, tolimit the scope of patent protection afforded the present invention,which scope is to be defined by the claims and the equivalents thereof.It is not intended that the scope of patent protection afforded thepresent invention be defined by reading into any claim a limitationfound herein that does not explicitly appear in the claim itself.

Thus, for example, any sequencers) and/or temporal order of steps ofvarious processes or methods that are described herein are illustrativeand not restrictive. Accordingly, it should be understood that, althoughsteps of various processes or methods may be shown and described asbeing in a sequence or temporal order, the steps of any such processesor methods are not limited to being carried out in any particularsequence or order, absent an indication otherwise. Indeed, the steps insuch processes or methods generally may be carried out in variousdifferent sequences and orders while still falling within the scope ofthe present invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope ofpatent protection afforded the present invention is to be defined by theappended claims rather than the description set forth herein.

Additionally, it is important to note that each term used herein refersto that which the Ordinary Artisan would understand such term to meanbased on the contextual use of such term herein. To the extent that themeaning of a term used herein—as understood by the Ordinary Artisanbased on the contextual use of such term—differs in any way from anyparticular dictionary definition of such term, it is intended that themeaning of the term as understood by the Ordinary Artisan shouldprevail.

Furthermore, it is important to note that, as used herein, “a” and “an”each generally denotes “at least one,” but does not exclude a pluralityunless the contextual use dictates otherwise. Thus, reference to “apicnic basket having an apple” describes “a picnic basket having atleast one apple” as well as “a picnic basket having apples.” Incontrast, reference to “a picnic basket having a single apple” describes“a picnic basket having only one apple.”

When used herein to join a list of items, “or” denotes “at least one ofthe items,” but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list. Thus,reference to “a picnic basket having cheese or crackers” describes “apicnic basket having cheese without crackers,” “a picnic basket havingcrackers without cheese,” and “a picnic basket having both cheese andcrackers.” Finally, when used herein to join a list of items, “and”denotes “all of the items of the list.” Thus, reference to “a picnicbasket having cheese and crackers” describes “a picnic basket havingcheese, wherein the picnic basket further has crackers,” as well asdescribes “a picnic basket having crackers, wherein the picnic basketfurther has cheese.”

References to “top,” “bottom,” “front” and “back” are made withreference to the figures and are for convenience only; they do notmandate any absolute position or orientation. Finally, whereverapplicable, like reference numerals refer to like elements.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals represent likecomponents throughout the several views, the preferred embodiments ofthe present invention are next described. The following description ofthe preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in noway intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

An equipment cabinet includes a rack having a central rack space formounting equipment, for example telecommunications equipment, whereinthe equipment is connected to a network by cables. The equipment cabinetfurther includes organizational elements for mounting the cables so asto organize the cables within the cabinet, outside the central rackspace. The cables may be organized to reduce impeding airflow to or fromthe equipment in the cabinet, and/or to reduce unwanted bending of thecables themselves, as the unwanted bending of the cables may causenetwork degradation or even failure. Further, the organization of thecables facilitates installation, moves, adds, and changes, of the cablesand equipment within the cabinet. The organizational elements formounting the cables may include one or more of: a trunk cable includinga furcation plug and universal clip; a furcation bracket (eithervertical or horizontal); a termination panel; a trunk cable manager;and/or an accessory bracket. The organizational elements may be used invarious combinations with one another, depending upon the needs withinthe equipment cabinet, and may be provided in a kit. By providing theorganizational elements in a kit, the user is guaranteed that theorganizational elements will assemble and work together withoutattempting to cross-reference component specification sheets or have tofield trial compatibility, which takes considerable time and money.

FIG. 1 is a right side view of a fiber management system, in accordancewith one or more preferred embodiments of the present invention,installed in an electronic equipment cabinet, while FIGS. 1A and 1B arean isometric view and a right side view, respectively, of a generallysimilar fiber management system 30, also in accordance with one or morepreferred embodiments of the present invention, installed in a similarelectronic equipment cabinet. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A, an equipmentcabinet 2 is generally oriented so as to have a top 9, a bottom 10, afront 11, and a rear 12. Again, reference to direction is made forconvenience only. The equipment cabinets 2 of FIGS. 1, 1A and 1B may beof the type sometimes referred to as “expanded” equipment cabinets. Suchcabinets are more fully disclosed and described in patent applicationSer. No. 11/837,538, which published as US Publication No. US 20080037228 A1 and which is, together with the publication thereof,incorporated herein by reference, but a short description is presentedhere for clarity. The equipment cabinet 2 includes an interior four-postframe structure 3, generally referred to herein as an equipment rack,and may include panels 8 surrounding the equipment rack 3, therebytaking the form of an enclosure, but may also be used without suchpanels 8 thereby having an open configuration. When the equipmentcabinet 2 includes panels 8, the panels may be coupled to the equipmentrack 3 by brackets 7. FIG. 1 shows a panel 8 mounted to the rear 12 ofthe equipment cabinet 2, while FIGS. 1A and 1B show a two-door panel 8mounted to the rear 12 of the equipment cabinet 2, a single-door panelmounted to the front 11 of the equipment cabinet 2, a side panel 8mounted to the left side of the equipment cabinet 2, and a top panel,plus top panel expansion elements, mounted to the top 9 of the equipmentcabinet 2. Further, the brackets 7 may include hinges for mountingselected panels 8 or door portions thereof, for example those at thefront 11 and/or rear 12 of the equipment cabinet 2, so that the interiorof the equipment cabinet 2 may be accessed by swinging the door panels 8about the hinges.

As shown and described, the equipment rack 3 is formed from a pluralityof frame members including four vertical members 4 and upper and lowerfront, rear, and side horizontal members 6. Each vertical member 4includes a plurality of cross member attachment apertures at each end.Two of the vertical members 4 are coupled together at their upper andlower ends by the upper and lower front horizontal members 5,respectively, and the other two vertical members 4 are coupled togetherat their upper and lower ends by the upper and lower rear horizontalmembers 5, respectively. The front cross horizontal members 5 and theirrespective vertical members 4 thus define a front frame, and the rearhorizontal members 5 and their respective vertical members 4 define arear frame. The front and rear frames may then be coupled together attheir respective corners by the upper and lower side (depth) horizontalmembers 5.

In the illustrated embodiment, each side horizontal member 5 includes anintegrated horizontal mounting rail 16 (identified in FIG. 1A) thatincludes two rows of mounting apertures extending along its entirelength. However, in other embodiments, the integrated horizontalmounting rails may be replaced by, or supplemented with, separatehorizontal mounting rails that may be disposed at the top or bottom ofthe vertical members 4 or at any location therebetween. Furthermore, themounting apertures in either the integrated or separate horizontalmounting rails may be replaced by longitudinal mounting slots runningsubstantially the length of horizontal mounting rail. Typically,vertical mounting rails 15 may be mounted to the horizontal mountingrails 16. Each vertical mounting rail 15 preferably includes a series ofevenly-spaced, threaded mounting apertures, extending alongsubstantially its entire length, for use in mounting electroniccomponents 20, peripheral devices, cable brackets, additional mountingmembers, or the like thereto.

Any known connection means may be used to join the various memberstogether. Although not illustrated herein, at least one example ofconventional connection means is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,185,098,the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. Althoughlikewise not illustrated herein, the precision and the stability of eachof the corners of at least some types of four post frame structures maybe enhanced by utilizing a self-squaring corner attachment bracket suchas that disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,117 entitled “RACK FRAMECABINET,” the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.Other connection means will likewise be apparent to the OrdinaryArtisan.

FIG. 1C is an enlarged top plan view of the fiber management system 30and electronic equipment cabinet 2 of FIG. 1B, shown with the top panelremoved and the location of the right side panel 8 shown in brokenlines. As shown therein, a central rack space 6 is defined, within theequipment cabinet 2, between the four vertical mounting rails 15 asshown in FIG. 1C. The central rack space 6, which is where electronicequipment 20 (shown in FIG. 1), accessories and the like are generallymounted, is in the form of a rectangular column of space generallybounded by the vertical mounting rails 15 and the top and bottom endsthereof. FIG. 1C also illustrates the substantial amount of availablespace 121, sometimes referred to herein as side panel space, outside theequipment rack 3 but within the front, rear and side panels 8, in whichat least some portions of the fiber management system 30 may be located.In the expanded equipment cabinet used as an example herein, such spaceis created using an expansion kit that includes the brackets 7,oversized panels 8, and top panel extension elements and is more fullydescribed in the aforementioned '538 application. However, although notillustrated herein, some equipment cabinets may utilize panels that aremounted directly to the vertical and horizontal members 4,5, or are atleast mounted in very close disposition to the vertical and horizontalmembers 4,5, and thus have no space between the rack and the panels, bututilize vertical mounting rails that are displaced inwardly from thevertical members and may have space between those vertical mountingrails and vertical members. In at least one embodiment, one or moreelements of the fiber management system 30 of the present invention areadapted for installation in such an arrangement.

The equipment 20 conventionally includes at least one wall 22 havingairflow openings 24 therein. For many types of equipment, side openings24, like those illustrated, are used to allow the equipment 20 toreceive cooling air and exhaust heated air. Each airflow opening 24defines a first side, established by one end 26 of the opening, and asecond side, established by an opposite end 28 of the opening. Examplesof the equipment 20 to be housed within the equipment rack 3 includeswitch equipment available from Cisco®, including the Cisco 9513 switchand the Cisco 6509 switch, as well as other types of equipment, forexample, Storage Area Network (SAN) switches, servers, or Network CoreRouters.

As depicted in the drawings, the equipment cabinet 2 also includes aplurality of conventional vertical cable management fingers 13. Thefingers 13 are coupled to the front right vertical member 4 of theequipment rack 3 and extend outwardly away from the equipment rack 3.Cables being routed to and from equipment 20 mounted in the central rackmount space 6 of the cabinet 2 may be threaded through the verticalfingers to improve organization and reduce congestion within the cabinet2.

Though the present invention is applicable to a variety of cables, itmay be particularly useful for managing trunk cables 40. Trunk cables 40connect the equipment 20 to a network, for example a telecommunicationsnetwork. A trunk cable 40 is shown in more detail in FIG. 2. Each trunkcable 40 includes a trunk portion 41 having an outer circumference 42.The trunk portion 41 may include multiple optical fibers, 12 to 864fibers for example, or may include multiple copper wire pairs. For sakeof simplicity in description, the trunk cable 40 will be describedhereafter as including optical fibers. A furcation plug 45, also shownin FIG. 3, then splits off subsets of the optical fibers in the trunkportion 41 into smaller furcation legs 43, wherein each of the furcationlegs 43 may include one or more optical fibers. Each of the furcationlegs 43 terminates in a fiber connector 44 that is then coupled to adrop cable 120, shown in FIG. 1, wherein the drop cable 120 isultimately coupled to the piece of equipment 20. The fiber connector 44may be of any suitable type, for example, MT, LC, or SC. One or morevertical cable management fingers 13, coupled to the equipment rack 3,may guide the drop cables 120 from the side of the cabinet 2 to thefront 11 where the drop cables 120 are plugged into the equipment 20.

The trunk cables 40 are organized within the cabinet 2 so as to avoidimpeding airflow to and/or from the equipment 20, and so as to avoidunwanted bending in the trunk cables 40 themselves as such unwantedbending may cause network degradation or even failure. Further, theorganization of the trunk cables 40 facilitates installation, moves,adds, and changes, of the trunk cables 40 and equipment 20 within thecabinet 2. In order to organize the trunk cables 40 in the equipmentcabinet 2, there may be used one or more of each of the followingorganizational elements in any suitable combination: a furcation plug 45including a universal clip 47; a furcation bracket (either vertical 60or horizontal 80); a termination panel 100; a trunk cable manager140,200; an accessory bracket 180; a fiber module bracket 222; and arotating fiber retaining spool 224. The aforementioned organizationalelements may be used in various combinations with one another, dependingupon the needs within the equipment cabinet 2, may be provided in a kit,and are described in more detail below.

FIG. 3A is an isometric view of some of the elements of the fibermanagement system 30 of FIG. 1A, shown in isolation from the equipmentcabinet 2. As shown therein, the elements include a universal accessorybracket 180, a vertical furcation bracket 60, a horizontal furcationbracket 80, and a trunk cable manager 140. Fiber module brackets 222 androtating fiber retaining spools 224 are shown attached to the accessorybracket 180.

The universal accessory bracket 180 (sometimes also referred to as thevertical accessory rail) may be connected to, and preferably alignedwith, any of the vertical members 4 of the equipment rack 3 (or, in aconventional non-expanded frame architecture, the accessory bracket 180may be connected to a conventional vertical member). Similarly, thevertical trunk cable manager 140 may be connected to, and preferablyaligned with, any of the vertical members 4 of the equipment rack 3.However, it will be appreciated that the universal accessory rail 180and vertical trunk cable manager 140 are generally used in tandem, andwhen so used, will preferably not be connected to the same verticalmember 4 of the equipment rack 3. It is contemplated that the universalaccessory bracket 180 and vertical trunk cable manager 140, when used intandem, will be disposed on adjacent vertical members 4, for examplethey may be disposed on the same side of the equipment cabinet 2 as oneanother and will be arranged such that one is disposed on the frontvertical member 4 of the particular side and one on the rear verticalmember 4 of the same side. Alternatively, in at least some embodiments,the universal accessory bracket 180 may be used without the verticaltrunk cable manager 140, and similarly, the vertical trunk cable manager140 may be used without the universal accessory bracket 180. Assuggested previously, a particular implementation of a fiber managementsystem may incorporate all of the elements shown in FIG. 3A (that is,the universal accessory bracket 180, the vertical trunk cable manager140, the vertical furcation bracket 60, and the horizontal furcationbracket 80) or may include only a subset of these elements. The servicefor which the equipment cabinet 2 is being used will generally determinewhich components of the fiber management system 30 are used.

Further, it will be appreciated by the Ordinary Artisan that thelocation of the vertical furcation bracket 60 is not limited to thatshown herein; rather, the vertical furcation bracket 60 may be locatedanywhere along the horizontal expanse of the side of the equipment rack3 on which the vertical furcation bracket 60 is mounted. Similarly, thehorizontal furcation bracket 80 may be located anywhere along thevertical expanse of the side of the equipment rack 3 on which thehorizontal furcation bracket 80 is mounted.

Still further, in at least some embodiments, more than one verticalfurcation bracket 60 may be utilized on the same side of the equipmentrack 3, and in at least some embodiments, more than one horizontalfurcation bracket 80 may be utilized on the same side of the equipmentrack 3.

The fiber management system 30 enables variable and flexible deploymentsof fiber connectors 44 and fiber cable management in the limited space121 found in the sides of an equipment cabinet 2, thus allowing forincremental deployments and flexible arrangements accommodating anas-you-go approach. It will be understood that the flexible system ofbrackets and accessories is not limited to fiber cabling applications,but could also be utilized for metallic (e.g. copper) cabling orflexible plumbing (e.g. polyethylene tubing).

The fiber management system 30 enables scaled deployment of fiberharnesses in storage area network (SAN) applications therebydramatically reducing the cable congestion and simplifying the cablerouting. The scalability of the system 30 further enables incrementaldeployment as the network expands by adding connectors and/or spoolassemblies to the universal accessory bracket 180 as needed and whereneeded.

As indicated previously, management of the cable mass is important notjust for ease-of-use, but also to promote proper airflow around theequipment. The fiber management system 30 accomplishes this additionaltask by containing the fiber bulk in the front of the cabinet 2 as wellas the fiber trunk cables 40 in the rear of the cabinet 2 such that anair gap remains between the cables 40 and the side panel 8. This issignificant for side-to-side breathing network equipment 20, such asswitch equipment available from Cisco, as this space allows intakeairflow to easily pass around the cables 40 and enter the air intake ofthe right side of the equipment.

The fiber management system 30 enables flexibility in allowing fiberconnectors and cable management accessories to be installed atincrements of one unit length (typically designated “U” or “RMU” in theart and generally being about 1.75 inches) vertically along theaccessory bracket 180. Additionally, the system 30 enables scalabilityin allowing only the capacity of fiber connections required to beinstalled initially, and then upgraded as the network grows. Further,the system enables maintaining alignment with network equipment tofacilitate logical network connections. Further, the system 30 providescontainment such that air flow around the cables (between cables andside panel) is not sacrificed.

Additional details of the various elements of the fiber managementsystem 30 of the present invention are described below.

Furcation Plug and Universal Clip

As shown in FIG. 3, the furcation plug 45 has a longitudinal axis 46 anda universal clip 47 in order to mount the furcation plug 45 at a desiredposition within the equipment cabinet 2. The universal clip 47 includesa first end 48 and a second end 49. At the first end 48 there isdisposed a first locking member 50 having a length 51. At the second end49, there is disposed a second locking member 52, having an arcuateportion 53 from which there extend two prongs 54. In a first, unbiased,state as shown in solid lines in FIG. 3, the second locking member 52has a first length 56. The arcuate portion 53 is made of a resilientmaterial so that the second locking member 52 may be bent to a secondstate, wherein the two prongs 54 touch each other as shown in dashedlines in FIG. 3, having a second length 55. Although only one of theprongs 54 is shown as deflecting from the first state to the secondstate, in an alternative embodiment, both prongs 53 may deflect to putthe second locking member 52 in its second state, i.e., wherein the twoprongs 54 touch each other and the second locking member 52 has secondlength 55. In either case, the second length 55 is shorter than thefirst length 56. Further, the first 50 and second 52 locking members arespaced from one another by a length 57. Over the length 57, there aredisposed support members 58. As described below, the lengths, 51, 55,56, and 57, are chosen relative to the lengths of, and spacings between,the slots in the furcation brackets 60,80 (described more fullyhereinbelow) so that the furcation plug 45 easily may be mounted to andremoved from various locations on the furcation brackets 60,80. Theability to mount the furcation plug 45 in different locationsfacilitates cabinet design, installation, moves, drops, and changes.Typically, the universal clip 47 would be molded from plastic so as tobe relatively lightweight and relatively inexpensive. However, theuniversal clip 47 may be constructed from material other than plastic.As will be apparent, a plurality of furcation plugs 45 may be utilizedwith either or both of the horizontal or vertical furcation brackets60,80.

Furcation Brackets

As shown in FIG. 1, the vertical furcation bracket 60 may be coupled tothe horizontal members 5 of the equipment rack 3 by fasteners 14, and isshown in more detail in FIGS. 3A and 4. The fasteners 14 may for exampleinclude screws, bolts, pins, rivets, clips, or the like. The verticalfurcation bracket 60 includes horizontal slots 61 and vertical slots 65that are engaged by the universal clip 47 to mount a furcation plug 45.

With particular reference to FIG. 4, the horizontal slots 61 each have alength 62, and are disbursed over the area of the vertical furcationbracket 60 in rows 63. The length 62 is chosen to be substantially thesame as, or slightly larger than, each of the length 51 of the firstlocking member 50 and the length 55 of the second locking member 52 inits second state. In FIG. 4, there are shown five horizontal slots 61 ineach row 63, and twenty seven rows 63 of slots. However, any suitablenumber of horizontal slots 61 may be used in a row 63, and any suitablenumber of rows 63 may be used on the vertical furcation bracket 60.Further, although the same number of horizontal slots 61 are shown ineach row 63, that need not be the case. In each row 63, pairs of thehorizontal slots 61, which may be non-adjacent, are separated by alength 64. For example, as shown, a pair of the horizontal slots 61 mayinclude two horizontal slots 61 that are separated by one otherhorizontal slot 61. Alternatively, a pair of horizontal slots 61 mayinclude two adjacent slots 61 in a row 63. Still further, alternatively,a pair of horizontal slots 61 may include a pair of slots 61 separatedby two, or three, or more, other horizontal slots 61 in a row 63. Thelength 64 is chosen to be substantially the same as the length 57between the first 50 and second 52 locking members on the universal clip47. Accordingly, the rows 63 of horizontal slots 61 provide flexibilityin mounting the universal clip 47 at various locations, wherein thedesired location may be chosen by a user when coupling the furcationplug 45 to the vertical furcation bracket 60. When coupling thefurcation plug 45 to the horizontal slots 61, the longitudinal axis 46will be in a generally horizontal orientation.

In at least one embodiment, the vertical slots 65 each have a length 66,and are disbursed over the area of the vertical furcation bracket 60 incolumns 67. The length 66 is chosen to be substantially the same as, orslightly larger than, each of the length 51 of the first locking member50 and the length 55 of the second locking member 52 in its secondstate. In FIG. 4, there are shown twenty six vertical slots 65 in eachcolumn 67, and five columns 67 of vertical slots 65. However, anysuitable number of vertical slots 65 may be used in a column 67, and anysuitable number of columns 67 may be used on the vertical furcationbracket 60. Further, although the same number of vertical slots 65 areshown in each column 67, that need not be the case. In each column 67,pairs of the vertical slots 65, which may be non-adjacent, are separatedby a length 68. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a pair of the verticalslots 65 may comprise two vertical slots 65 that are separated by oneother vertical slot 65. Alternatively, a pair of vertical slots 65 mayinclude two adjacent slots 65 in a column 67. Still further,alternatively, a pair of vertical slots 65 may include a pair ofvertical slots 65 separated by two, or three, or more, other verticalslots 65 in a column 67. The length 68 is chosen to be the same as thelength 57 between the first 50 and second 52 locking members on theuniversal clip 47. Accordingly, the columns 67 of vertical slots 65provide flexibility in mounting the universal clip 47 at variouslocations, wherein the desired location may be chosen by a user whencoupling the furcation plug 45 to the vertical furcation bracket 60.When coupling the furcation plug 45 to the vertical slots 65, thelongitudinal axis 46 will be in a generally vertical orientation.

The vertical furcation bracket 60 may also include other mountingstructures, for example, columns 70 of horizontal slots, mounting holes72, and mounting slots 74. The columns 70 of horizontal slots may beused to mount elements to the vertical furcation bracket 60 by, forexample, hook-and-loop strip fasteners or plastic ties. Mounting holes72 may be used to mount elements to the vertical furcation bracket 60by, for example, screws, bolts, pins, rivets, or clips. Although shownas being generally in two columns between the columns 70 of horizontalslots, the mounting holes 72 may be disbursed over the area of thevertical furcation bracket 60. The mounting slots 74 may be used toattach, as by fasteners 14, the vertical furcation bracket 60 to ahorizontal member 5 of the equipment rack 3. See, for example, FIG. 1.Alternatively, the mounting holes 72 may be used to mount the verticalfurcation bracket 60 to either a horizontal member 5 or a verticalmember 4. In either case, the vertical furcation bracket 60 is mountedin a generally vertical manner in the equipment cabinet 2.

The horizontal furcation bracket 80, which is shown in more detail inFIG. 5, may be coupled to vertical mounting rails 15 and/or an accessorybracket 180 of the equipment rack 3 by fasteners, with their relativedispositions perhaps best depicted in FIG. 1B. The horizontal furcationbracket 80 includes horizontal slots 82 that are engaged by theuniversal clip 47 to mount a furcation plug 45.

The horizontal slots 82 each have a length 84, and are disbursed overthe area of the horizontal furcation bracket 80 in rows 86. The length84 is chosen to be substantially the same as, or slightly larger than,each of the length 51 of the first locking member 50 and the length 55of the second locking member 52 in its second state. In FIG. 5, thereare shown twenty eight horizontal slots 82 in each row 86, and two rows86 of horizontal slots 82. However, any suitable number of horizontalslots 82 may be used in a row 86, and any suitable number of rows 86 maybe used on the horizontal furcation bracket 80. Further, although thesame number of horizontal slots 82 are shown in each row 86, that neednot be the case. In each row 86, pairs of the horizontal slots 82, whichmay be non-adjacent, are separated by a length 88. For example, as shownin FIG. 5, a pair of the horizontal slots 82 may include two horizontalslots 82 that are separated by one other horizontal slot 82.Alternatively, a pair of horizontal slots 82 may include two adjacentslots 82 in a row 86. Still further, alternatively, a pair of horizontalslots 82 may include a pair of slots 82 separated by two, three, ormore, other horizontal slots 82 in a row 86. The length 88 is chosen tobe substantially the same as the length 57 between the first 50 andsecond 52 locking members on the universal clip 47. Accordingly, therows 86 of horizontal slots 82 provide flexibility in mounting theuniversal clip 47 at various locations, wherein the desired location maybe chosen by a user when coupling the furcation plug 45 to thehorizontal furcation bracket 80. When coupling the furcation plug 45 tothe horizontal slots 83, the longitudinal axis 46 will be in a generallyhorizontal orientation.

The horizontal furcation bracket 80 may also include other mountingstructures, for example, vertical slots 90 disposed in a row 92, amounting bracket 94, and/or mounting holes 96. The vertical slots 90 insuch row 92 may be used to mount elements to the horizontal furcationbracket 80 by, for example, hook-and-loop strip fasteners or plasticties. Any suitable number of slots 90 may be disposed in any suitablenumber of rows 92. Mounting holes 96 may be used to mount elements tothe horizontal furcation bracket 80 by fasteners, for example, screws,bolts, pins, rivets, or clips. As shown, the mounting holes 96 may bedisbursed over the area of the horizontal furcation bracket 80 and/or onthe mounting bracket 94. Additionally, the mounting holes 96 may be usedto mount the horizontal furcation bracket 80 to the vertical 4 orhorizontal 5 rails of the equipment cabinet. In either case, thehorizontal furcation bracket 80 is mounted in a generally horizontalmanner in the equipment cabinet 2.

Alternative variations of the vertical and horizontal furcation brackets60,80 are shown in FIG. 3A. Either furcation bracket 60,80 may be, asshown for example in the horizontal furcation bracket 80 of FIG. 5, of aplanar material of sufficient thickness to provide a desired rigidity,or may be, as shown for example in the vertical furcation bracket 80 ofFIG. 3A, of a sheet material having two flanges, running the lengththereof, to provide such rigidity.

Furcation brackets 60,80 provide attachment points for the trunk cable40 furcation plugs 45, and tie-points for securing the trunk cables 40.Thus, the furcation brackets 60,80 allow trunk cables 40 to bepositioned anywhere in the cabinet 2 for easy alignment with connectingpoints, so as to avoid airflow openings 24 in the equipment 20, and soas to organize the trunk cables 40 generally in one plane for easiermoves, adds, or changes. The design of the brackets 60,80 is integratedwith that of the furcation plugs 45 so the furcation plugs 45 snap infor easy installation and/or removal.

Termination Panel

The termination panel 100 typically will be coupled directly to avertical member 4 near the front 11 of the equipment cabinet 2 as shownin FIG. 1, or to an accessory bracket 180, for example directly or via afiber module bracket 222, that is mounted on a vertical member 4 nearthe front 11 of the equipment cabinet 2 as shown in FIGS. 1A-1C;however, other mounting locations are possible. The termination panel100 is used to mount sockets 110 into which are plugged the connectors44 on the ends of the furcation legs 43 of the trunk cable 40, and theconnectors on the ends of the drop cables 120.

One or more embodiments of a termination panel 100 are shown in moredetail in FIGS. 6-8. Each termination panel 100 includes holes 102through which fasteners 104 are inserted to couple the termination panel100 to the equipment rack 3 or mounting portion thereof. The centers ofthe holes 102 are spaced from one another by a distance 105. Fasteners104 may be screws, bolts, pins, rivets, clips, or the like.Alternatively, other manners of coupling the termination panel 100 tothe equipment rack 3 may be used, for example, a snap-together fitting.

To mount the sockets 110, the termination panel 100 includes rectangularopenings 108. The termination panel shown in FIG. 6 includes fourrectangular openings 108 disposed in one column, wherein the top threerectangular openings 108 are each shown holding four sockets 110, whilethe bottom rectangular opening 108 is shown without sockets 110. Thesockets 110 may be sized and configured to snap-fit into the rectangularopenings 108 or may be attached to the termination panel 100 by anyother suitable method, for example, by adhesive, fasteners, screws,bolts, pins, rivets, or the like. Alternatively, the rectangularopenings 108 may be arranged differently on the termination panel 100.For example, instead of being aligned in one column, the rectangularopenings 108 may be aligned in two columns that are disposedside-by-side. Further, for example, any suitable number of rectangularopenings 108 may be used on any one termination panel 100. For example,as shown in FIG. 1, there are four termination panels 100, wherein thetop panel 100 includes four rectangular openings 108 in a column, thenext termination panel 100 down includes two rectangular openings 108 ina column, the next termination panel 100 down after that includes onerectangular opening 108 in a column, and the bottom termination panel100 includes four rectangular openings 108 in a column. Although onlyone column can be seen in FIG. 1, there may be any suitable number ofcolumns of rectangular openings 108. Still further, the rectangularopenings 108 may be sized to fit any suitable number of sockets 110.

Each termination panel preferably has a height corresponding to a wholenumber of RMUs. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the termination panel mayoccupy two RMUs. In another embodiment, one termination panel 100includes two rectangular openings 108 that are arranged side-by-side sothat the termination panel 100 only occupies a height of one RMU. Inthis case, the termination panel 100 would hold eight sockets 110, whichcorresponds to the number of connectors on a typical blade of a server.Accordingly, the one termination panel 100 would include all of theconnections for one blade of the server, thereby facilitating moves,adds, or changes. That is, for example, when it is desired to disconnectone or more furcation legs 43 from a particular blade, the terminationpanel 100 corresponding to that blade may be uncoupled from theequipment rack 3 from the front 11 of the equipment cabinet 2 to accessthe side of the termination panel 100 on which the furcation legs 43 areplugged. Further, because one termination panel 100 includes all theconnections for one blade, the change may be done without disturbing theother connections to other blades within the equipment cabinet 2.Similarly, if it is desired to remove one blade entirely, again, becauseall of the connections are made with one termination panel 100, theconnections for that blade may be removed all together withoutdisturbing the connections for other blades.

As shown in FIG. 7, the termination panel 100 may include across-section that is generally planar. Alternatively, as shown in FIG.8, the termination panel 100 may include an attachment portion 112 and asocket mounting portion 114 that are offset relative to one another,i.e., they are not in the same plane. The offset is provided by acoupling portion 116 disposed between the attachment portion 112 andsocket mounting portion 114. This latter configuration assists inproviding an advantageous airflow in the equipment cabinet 2. That is,as shown in FIG. 1, a termination panel 100 having a planarcross-section may cause the furcation legs 43 to bunch together in frontof the airflow openings 24 located near the front 11 of the equipmentcabinet. However, a termination panel 100 having an offset would movethe furcation legs 43 farther forward thereby leaving unimpeded theairflow openings 24 near the front 11 of the equipment cabinet 2.

Additionally, the configuration of FIG. 8 facilitates access to thefurcation legs 43 for easier adds, changes, or drops. That is, byoffsetting the sockets 110 forward from the attachment portion 112 (andthe connection point to the rack or accessory bracket), there isprovided additional room for a user to reach behind the terminationpanel 100, especially when the termination panels 100 are spaced alongthe height of the cabinet.

The termination panel 100 may be coupled to the equipment rack 3 so thatthe termination panel 100 is outside of the central rack space 6. Asfurther described below, the termination panel 100 may be coupled to theequipment rack 3 by a universal accessory bracket 180, particularlythrough the use of a fiber module bracket 222.

Trunk Cable Manager

FIGS. 9 and 10A are a right side view and an isometric view,respectively, of the vertical trunk cable manager 140 of FIG. 3A, andFIG. 10 is a top cross-sectional view of the trunk cable manager 140 ofFIG. 9, taken along line 10-10. The trunk cable manager 140 is generallyJ-shaped with a longer side thereof being coupled to a vertical member 4of the equipment rack 3 such that the rest of the cable manager 140 isdirected into the side space or airflow region 121 of the cabinet 2. Inat least some embodiments, the trunk cable manager 140 is installedalongside one vertical member 4 such that the closed end of the J-shapefaces the nearer of either the front or rear of the equipment cabinet 2and the open end of the J-shape faces toward the more distant of thefront or rear of the equipment cabinet 2. For example, in theimplementation illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1C, the trunk cable manager 140is installed alongside the right-rear vertical member 4 such that theclosed end of the J-shape faces the rear of the equipment cabinet 2, andthe open end of the J-shape faces toward the front the equipment cabinet2, which is more distant than the rear. This arrangement allows cables40 to be routed through the open side of the J-shape toward otherelements of the fiber management system 30 and/or equipment 20 mountedin the equipment rack 3. The long side of the cable manager 140 includesa series of horizontal slot-type openings 143 aligned vertically nearthe edge thereof.

The fiber trunk cable manager 140 supports and protects fiber trunkcables 40 as they transition from a generally vertical orientation to agenerally horizontal orientation to make connections inside the cabinet2. The cable manager 140 is often used in combination with the verticalfurcation bracket 60 and provides strain relief so that the furcationplug 45 on the trunk cable 40 can mount properly to the verticalfurcation bracket 60. In particular, the horizontal slot openings 143 ofthe cable manager 140 are used as tie points to support trunk cables 40as they transition from a vertical orientation to a horizontalorientation before extending adjacent to the vertical furcation bracket60. In at least one embodiment, the cable manager 140 is sized tosupport connections for two fully populated network switches 20.

Trunk cable manager 140 is coupled to the equipment rack 3 by fasteners14 and provides support for the trunk cables 40 as they extend into theequipment cabinet 2 and toward the equipment 20. The trunk cable manager140 supports the trunk cables 40 so as to reduce unwanted micro and/ormacro bending, as well as to provide strain relief, protection, andvertical support. Further, the trunk cable manager 140 supports trunkcables 40 so as to reduce torsion on the universal clip 147 of thefurcation plug 145.

The longer side of the trunk cable manager 140 includes a first planarportion 142 and a second planar portion 144 connected to one another byan angled portion 146. The angled portion 146 transitions the firstplanar portion 142 and second planar portion 144 so that they are notcoplanar. As described in further detail below, this arrangement assistsin reducing unwanted micro- and macro-bending in the trunk cables 40.

The first planar portion 142 includes horizontal slots 143 generallydisposed in a column. The slots 143 may receive fastening members 160,shown in FIGS. 1 and 14, to hold the trunk cables 40. The fasteningmembers 160 may include hook-and-loop strip fasteners or plastic ties,for example. The number and arrangement of slots 143 allows a user tofasten a trunk cable 40 at any of many various locations within theequipment cabinet 2, thereby providing flexibility in designing thecabinet 2.

The second planar portion 144 includes access openings 150 and mountingholes 152. The mounting holes 152 may receive the fasteners 14therethrough to mount the trunk cable manager 140 to the equipment rack3, Further, to one end of the second planar portion 144, there iscoupled a trough 148, forming the bottom of the J-shape describedpreviously, to support the trunk cables 40. The trough 148 may alsoinclude access openings 150 to permit, for example, manipulation ofcables 40 running along the cable manager 140.

FIGS. 9, 10 and 10A illustrate a first embodiment of a vertical trunkcable manager 140, while FIG. 11 is a front view of an alternativeembodiment of a trunk cable manager 200, and FIG. 12 is a topcross-sectional view of the trunk cable manager 200 of FIG. 11, takenalong line 12-12. When viewed in cross-section, the trunk cable manager200 of FIGS. 11 and 12 includes a leg generally similar to the longerside of the cable manager 140 of FIGS. 9, 10 and 10A but does notinclude a shorter leg, does not have a trough, and thus does not have aJ-shaped cross-section. The trunk cable manager 200 includes a firstplanar portion 202 and a second planar portion 204 connected to oneanother by an angled portion 206. The angled portion 206 couples thefirst planar portion 202 and second planar portion 204 so that they arenot coplanar. As described in further detail below, this arrangementassists in reducing unwanted micro- and macro-bending in the trunkcables 40.

The first planar portion 202 includes slots 208 generally disposed in acolumn. The slots 208 may receive fastening members 160 to hold andsupport the trunk cables 40. The number and arrangement of slots 208allows a user to fasten a trunk cable 40 at any of many variouslocations within the equipment cabinet 2, thereby providing flexibilityin design.

The second planar portion 204 includes mounting holes 210, verticalslots 212, and access openings 214. The mounting holes 210 may receivefasteners 14 therethrough to mount the trunk cable manager 200 to theequipment rack 3. The vertical slots 212 may receive fastening members160 to hold and support the trunk cables 40. The number and arrangementof slots 212 allows a user to fasten a trunk cable 40 at many variouslocations within the equipment cabinet 2, thereby providing flexibilityin design. As shown in FIG. 11, the slots 212 are provided in eightgroups of three at various vertical positions along the trunk cablemanager 200. Of course, more or less slots 212 may be disposed in anyone group, and any number of groups of slots 212 may be provided alongthe length of the trunk cable manager 200. The access openings 214permit, for example, manipulation of cables 40 running along the cablemanager 200.

Accessory Bracket

FIG. 13 is an isometric view of the accessory bracket of FIG. 3A. Asshown therein, the universal accessory bracket 180 is generally aC-shaped rail with a length that, in at least one embodiment, isgenerally equivalent to the height of the vertical member 4 to which itis mounted. The accessory bracket 180 includes a back plate or spine181, a first leg 183, and a second leg 184. The back plate 181 includesholes 182 to receive fasteners 14 to mount the accessory bracket 180 toa vertical member 4 of the equipment rack 3. The first 183 and second184 legs extend from the back plate 181, away from the vertical member 4of the rack 3. Advantageously, the universal accessory bracket 180 maybe mounted anywhere along the height of a vertical member 4 of the frameof the equipment rack 3, and in some embodiments, is shorter than thelength of the vertical member 4 so as to facilitate selective use alongthe member 4. The universal accessory bracket 180, which may beconstructed out of any rigid material, accepts a variety of brackets andaccessories in a plurality of locations evenly distributed verticallyalong the length of the universal accessory bracket 180.

The first leg 183 includes mounting holes 185 for mounting equipment,for example a termination panel 100, a series of fiber module brackets222 (each with or without a termination panel 100 mounted thereon), orthe end of a horizontal furcation bracket 80, to the accessory bracket180 and, thus, to the equipment rack 3. Pairs of holes 185, which may benon-adjacent, are spaced from one another by a distance 187, whereindistance 187 is the same as the distance 105 between holes 102 in thetermination panel 100 of FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 13, two holes 185 in apair are separated by another hole 185; however, other configurationsare possible. For example, the two holes 185 in a pair may be adjacentto one another, or spaced by two, three, or more, other holes 185.

The second leg 184 includes holes 186 and slots 188. The holes 186 maybe used to mount equipment, for example a termination panel 100, aseries of fiber module brackets 222 (each with or without a terminationpanel 100 mounted thereon), or the end of a horizontal furcation bracket80, to the accessory bracket 180 and, thus, to the equipment rack 3.Pairs of holes 186, which may be non-adjacent, are preferably spacedfrom one another by a distance 190, wherein distance 190 is the same asthe distance 105 between holes 102 in the termination panel 100. Asshown in FIG. 13, two holes 186 in a pair are adjacent to one another,however, other configurations are possible. For example, the two holes186 in a pair may be separated from one another by one, two, three, ormore, other holes 186. Slots 188 may be used to receive a fasteningmember 160 for holding furcation legs 43 or other cables. As shown inFIG. 13, the slots 188 are arranged in fourteen groups of two along thelength of the accessory bracket 180. Of course, any number of groups ofslots 188 may be used along the length of the accessory bracket 180 andany number of slots 188 may be used in any one group. Although thenumbers of slots 188 in each group are shown as being the same, thisneed not be the case. Additionally, although the groups of slots 188 areshown as alternating with the holes 186 along the length of theaccessory bracket 180, this also need not be the case. However, auniform arrangement of termination panel mounting holes 185, equipmentmounting holes 186, slots 188, provides for flexibility in mountingequipment to the accessory bracket 180.

FIGS. 15-18 are detailed isometric views of the accessory bracket 180and fiber management accessories of FIG. 3A. As shown therein, variousfiber management accessories may be attached to the rectangular shapedopenings 185 of the exterior side arm 183 of the accessory bracket 180.It is preferred that the spacing of the rectangular shaped openings 185be 0.5 RMU (0.875 inches) so as to coordinate with any of a variety ofaccessories making use of standardized RMU spacings. The spacing of therectangular shaped openings 185 enables fiber management accessories tobe aligned with electronic equipment contained in the rack mount space 6of the equipment cabinet 2. Because the column of rectangular openings185 extends the length of the exterior side arm 183, accessories may beattached anywhere along the length of the exterior side arm 183.Brackets and accessories that may be attached to the accessory bracket180 include, but are not limited to, a high-density fiber MTP connectorpanel, a bracket 222 that accepts standard termination panels 100 andthe like (such as standard closet connector housing (“CCH”) fibermodules), termination panels 100 without a bracket 222, and a rotatingfiber retaining spool 224. As discussed previously, the brackets andaccessories can be installed on the accessory bracket 180 such thatfiber connections are aligned with the equipment 20 or other apparatusto which the cables 40 are connected. This alignment makes the cablingeasier to manage. In this regard, it will again be appreciated thatbrackets and accessories that attach to the accessory bracket 180 cansupport either copper or fiber connectors as well as cable managementfunctions.

As previously mentioned, the interior side arm 184 includes a series ofround openings 186 alternating with a series of vertical slot-typeopenings 188. It is contemplated that the slot-type openings 188 may bethreaded with tie-down devices, e.g., Velcro® ties, for use in managingand organizing optical fibers in the side panel space 121. It iscontemplated that the round openings 186 may be used to attachhorizontal or vertical furcation brackets 80,60, respectively, to theaccessory bracket 180. It will be understood that the round openings 186and vertical slot openings 188 may be used as connection or attachmentpoints for various components and/or accessories that are notspecifically discussed herein, i.e., the functionality of the openings186,188 should not be limited in any way by the description providedherein.

FIG. 15 shows a plurality of rotating fiber retaining spool assemblies224 and a plurality of fiber module brackets 222 attached to theaccessory bracket 180. FIG. 16 shows a single fiber module bracket 222attached to the accessory bracket 180. As shown in FIG. 15 the accessorybracket 180 may be heavily populated with fiber management accessories,which may be attached at various locations along the height of theaccessory bracket 180. The fiber module bracket 222 accepts standardtermination panels 100 and the like (such as CCH fiber modules). Thesemodules are fiber connectors that enable quick connection of opticalfibers. In addition, and as discussed previously, fiber connectors mayenable fewer cables 40 to exit the connector than enter the connectorbecause the connector may route more than one fiber through a singlecable. For example an MTP connector can reduce the number of fibercables from six duplex fiber cables to one 12-fiber cable. As alsomentioned previously, the spacing and location of the rectangularopenings 185 of the exterior side arm 183 enables the accessories, inthis example, the fiber module brackets 222 to be aligned with theelectronic equipment 20 and other apparatus contained in the rack mountspace 6 of the cabinet 2.

In an exemplary scenario, a network core switch 20 utilizingside-to-side cooling airflow is housed in the rack mount space 6 of acabinet 2. It is particularly beneficial for a fiber module bracket 222containing a fiber connector to be vertically aligned with the networkswitch 20 in the rack mount space. This alignment enables optical fibersleaving the network switch 20 to patch into a fiber connector in theside panel space 121 immediately adjacent the network switch rather thanhaving to travel into the side panel space 121 and be routed upward ordownward, depending on where the fiber connector is housed in the rackmount space, through the side panel space 121 and back into a fiberconnector housed in the rack mount space either above or below thenetwork switch. Reducing the distance that optical fiber has to travelbefore patching into a fiber connector reduces optical fiber congestion.

Even in the situation wherein the number of fiber cables is not reducedby a fiber connector, congestion is reduced by locating the fiberconnector nearer the network switch 20 because fiber cables are nottraveling through the cabinet side space 121 to patch into a fiberconnector. Fiber cables are routed directly to a fiber connector andthen out of the cabinet 2 rather than taking a circuitous route throughthe cabinet 2 to patch into a fiber connector and then be routed out ofthe cabinet. Reducing fiber congestion increases organization within thecabinet 2 and improves thermal management within the cabinet 2, i.e.,the less fibers there are congesting the side panel space 121, the moreair is allowed to flow through the side panel space 121 thereby coolingthe equipment housed in the cabinet 2.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged isometric view of the fiber module bracket 222 ofFIG. 16. The bracket 222 is generally L-shaped, having tworectangular-shaped plates 226,227 that are in orthogonal relation to oneanother, thereby creating the L-shape of the bracket. A first plate 226includes mounting holes for attaching the bracket to the accessorybracket 180. A second plate 227 has a pair of mounting tabs 232projecting orthogonally from the side 228 of the plate 227 opposite theside 228 to which the first plate 226 is connected. The mounting tabs232 are disposed adjacent the ends 230 of the second plate 227 and arefor mounting of a termination panel 100 or other fiber module connectorthereto. Each mounting tab 232 includes an aperture, with the placementof the apertures arranged to create a spacing similar to that of thedistance 105 between holes 102 of the termination panel 100.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary isometric view of the verticalaccessory rail of FIG. 15 with a single rotating fiber retaining spoolassembly 224 attached thereto. The spool assembly 224 includes aconnection bracket 234 and a fiber spool 236. The spool 236 includes anarm 238 and a shaft 240 oriented orthogonally in relation to oneanother. The entire spool 236 rotates in relation to the connectionbracket 234 to enable the arm 238 to be placed in various orientations.More specifically, the arm 238 may be placed at 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°all relative to vertical. The spool 236 assembly may be placed anywherealong the height of the accessory bracket 180. A function of the spoolassembly 224 is to guide and contain fiber cables present in a cabinet2. The arm 238 of the spool 236 may be rotated to better enable thespool 236 to perform its function. For instance, the spool 236 mayinhibit fiber cables from entering the door area or fiber connectionareas in the cabinet 2. As such, the spool assembly 224 further aids inreducing congestion and improving organization within the cabinet 2. Thefiber retaining spool 236 may also be rotated vertically to allowunimpeded access to the cable bundle during installation andmaintenance. A suitable spool assembly 224 is more fully described inU.S. provisional patent application 61/020,741 and in co-pending U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/349,619, filed Jan. 7, 2009 and entitled“REPOSITIONABLE SHELF-MOUNTED HANDLE SPOOL ASSEMBLY FOR CABLE ROUTING,”the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Use of the Organizational Elements

There will now be described the use of the organizational elements in anequipment cabinet 2 so as to reduce impeding airflow to and/or from theequipment 20 in the cabinet 2, and so as to reduce unwanted bending ofthe cables 40 themselves. In order to reduce impeding airflow to and/orfrom the equipment 20 in the cabinet 2, the trunk cable 40 is preferablysupported at two points adjacent to the equipment wall 22 in which theairflow openings 24 are located. Support at two points allows the trunkcable 40, particularly the furcation legs 43, to be routed in such amanner as to avoid or minimize covering the airflow openings 24.

In general, as shown in FIG. 1, the organizational elements are used toroute the trunk cables 40 through the cabinet. The trunk cables 40 enterthe bottom-rear of the cabinet 2 through the trunk cable manager 140.Alternatively, the trunk cables 40 may enter the top-rear of thecabinet, again through the trunk cable manager 140. In either case, thetrunk cables 40 initially extend in a substantially vertical manner asthey enter the equipment cabinet 2. As the trunk cables 40 transition toa horizontal orientation through the front of the trunk cable manager140, the trunk cables 40 are secured to the trunk cable manager 140 byfastening members 160 coupled to a pair of slots 143 in the trunk cablemanager 140. Instead of the trunk cable manager 140, the trunk cablemanager 200 may be used in a manner similar to that described above.

The trunk cables 40 are then secured at a first point adjacent to thewall 22 by a vertical furcation bracket 60 by snapping the furcationplug 45 with universal clip 47 into a pair of slots. Although not shownin FIG. 1, a horizontal furcation bracket 80 may also be used for thispurpose either instead of, or in addition to, the vertical furcationbracket 60. The furcation plug 45 with universal clip 47 may be coupledto the vertical furcation bracket 60 so that the longitudinal axis 46 iseither in a horizontal or a vertical orientation. In either orientation,the furcation plug 45 may be coupled to the vertical furcation bracket60 in many different locations due to the above-described arrangement ofhorizontal 61 and vertical 65 slots, and because the vertical furcationbracket 60 extends over a substantial portion of the height of theequipment cabinet 2.

In order to couple the furcation plug 45 to the vertical furcationbracket 60, for example, the first locking member 51 is inserted into afirst one of the horizontal slots 61 in a row 63. Additionally, thesecond locking member 52 is moved from its first state to its secondstate wherein the second locking member 52 has second length 55. Thesecond locking member 52 is then inserted into another horizontal slot61 that is in the same row 63 and that is spaced from the first one ofthe horizontal slots 61 by a length 64. The second locking member 52 isthen allowed to resume its first state having a length 56, therebycoupling the universal clip 47 and furcation plug 45 to the verticalfurcation bracket 60. That is, the lengths 51 and 55 are chosen so as tobe substantially the same as or slightly shorter than the length 62 sothe first 50 and second 52 locking members can be inserted through theslots 61, whereas the lengths 57 and 56 together are greater than thelengths 62 and 64 so that the universal clip 47 securely may be coupledto the vertical furcation bracket 60. When the furcation plug 45 iscoupled to the furcation bracket 60 in this manner, the support members58 rest on the vertical furcation bracket 60 to assist in holding thefurcation plug 45 and thus the trunk cable 40 in place. Again, in asimilar manner a furcation plug 45 may be coupled in a verticalorientation to the slots 65 of the vertical furcation bracket 60, or maybe coupled in a horizontal orientation to the horizontal slots 82 in thehorizontal furcation bracket 80. In any event, the trunk cable 40 isthen securely coupled at one point adjacent to the equipment wall 22that includes the airflow openings 24.

The furcation legs 43 of the trunk cable 40 are then routed outside ofthe central rack space 6, and more particularly in the side space 121,and around the airflow openings 24, so as to avoid blocking the airflowopenings 24 in the wall 22 of the equipment 20 that is mounted in thecentral rack space 6. The furcation plug 45 may be located at a heightthat is either above or below the height of the airflow openings 24, andhave the axis 46 oriented in a generally horizontal manner.Alternatively, the furcation plug 45 may be mounted at a height that isthe same as that at which the airflow openings 24 are located, but haveits axis 46 oriented vertically so that the furcation legs 43 may stillbe routed around the airflow openings 24 without unwanted bending in thefurcation legs.

After being routed around the airflow openings 24, the furcation legs 43are coupled at a second point adjacent to the wall 22. By coupling thetrunk cable 40 at two points adjacent to the wall 22, the trunk cable 40can securely be held away from the airflow openings 24 to avoid impedingairflow to or from the equipment 20.

To secure the trunk cable 40 at a second point, connectors 44 on theends of furcation legs 43 are coupled to sockets 110 in a terminationpanel 100, and the termination panel 100 is coupled to the rack 3 by theaccessory bracket 180, with or without the use of a fiber module bracket222. The accessory bracket 180 is coupled to the equipment rack byfasteners 14 inserted through holes 182. The accessory bracket 180 isshown in FIG. 1 as being mounted to a vertical member 41 and is mountedso as to be outside of the central rack space 6. In an alternativeembodiment, the accessory bracket 180 may be mounted between twohorizontal members 5. The termination panel 100 may then be coupled byfasteners 104 to either a pair of holes 185 in the first leg 183 of theaccessory bracket 180, a pair of holes 186 in the second leg 184 of theaccessory bracket 180, or a pair of holes in the mounting tabs 232 ofthe fiber module brackets 222. Fasteners 104 may be screws, bolts, pins,rivets, clips, or the like. As noted above, the distance 105 betweenholes 102 of the termination panel 100 is chosen so as to be the same asdistance 187 and the same as distance 190. Additionally, because theholes 185 and holes 186 are located along the length of the accessorybracket 180, and because the accessory bracket extends over asubstantial portion of the height of the cabinet 2, the terminationpanel 100 may be located at many various points along the height of theequipment cabinet 2, with or without the use of fiber module brackets222, thereby facilitating organization of the trunk cables 40.

As an alternative, or additional, second point for securing the trunkcable 40, the furcation legs 43 may be coupled directly to the accessorybracket 180. More specifically, a fastening member 160 may be loopedaround the furcation legs 43, and looped through slots 188 to secure thefurcation legs 43 directly to the accessory bracket 180. Because thecolumns of slots 188 are arranged along a substantial portion of thelength of the accessory bracket 180, and because the accessory bracket180 may extend over a substantial portion of the height of the equipmentcabinet 2, the furcation legs 43 may advantageously be secured at manyvarious points along the height of the equipment cabinet 2, therebyfacilitating organization of the trunk cables 40.

As set forth above, the trunk cables 40 are supported to avoid theairflow openings 24 by two points of connection, i.e., connection of thefurcation plug 45 to the vertical furcation bracket 60 and by theconnection of furcation legs 43 to either the termination panel 100 orto the accessory bracket 180, or to both the termination panel 100 andthe accessory bracket 180.

Next, there will be described the use of the organizational elements inan equipment cabinet 2 so as to reduce unwanted bending of the trunkcables 40, and so as to facilitate installation, moves, or adds.

As noted above, the trunk cables 40 enter the bottom-rear of the cabinet2 through the trunk cable manager 140. Alternatively, the trunk cables40 may enter the top-rear of the cabinet, again through the trunk cablemanager 140. Because the trunk cable manager 140 is mounted outside ofthe central rack space 6 and is vertically oriented, the trunk cablemanager 140 allows the cables 40 to transitionvertically-to-horizontally, or vice versa, along the side of the cabinet2 without interfering with the functionality of the cabinet doors 8,hinges on brackets 7 or equipment 20, which interference may otherwiselead to unwanted bending of the trunk cables 40. Further, the trunkcables 40 are disposed within the trough 148, or against the body of thealternative trunk cable manager 200, which provides support and strainrelief to the cables 40. The support by the trough 148 also reducesunwanted bending in the trunk cables 40. As the trunk cables 40transition to a horizontal orientation, the trunk cables are secured tothe trunk cable manager 140 by fastening members 160 coupled to a pairof slots 143 in the trunk cable manager 140. Because of the numerousslots 143 disposed along the length of the trunk cable manager 140, thetrunk cables 40 may be coupled to the trunk cable manager 140 adjacentto one another and substantially in the same plane, as opposed to on topof one another in a jumble. Accordingly, the trunk cable manager 140also keeps the trunk cables 40 organized for future moves, adds orchanges. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the trunk cables 40 are organizedone above another, and substantially in one plane so that any one mayeasily be accessed for installation, moves adds, or changes.Additionally, the vertical furcation bracket 60 (and/or horizontalfurcation bracket 80) keep the furcation plugs 45 in substantially thesame plane, to maintain the organization of the trunk cables 40 for easyinstallation, moves, adds, or changes.

Further, the trunk cable manager 140 may be used to support the trunkcables 40 so as to further preventing unwanted bending of the trunkcable 40, and so as to reduce the torsion on the universal clip 147,thereby increasing the useful life of the universal clip 147.

FIG. 14 is a top view of a portion of the equipment cabinet 2 of FIG. 1,taken along line 14-14. In FIG. 14, it is seen that the trunk cablemanager 140 supports the trunk cable 40 so as to bend gently toward thecentral rack space 6 as the trunk cable 40 extends substantiallyhorizontally from the rear 12 of the cabinet 2 toward the front 11. Moreparticularly, the second planar portion 144 is coupled to the verticalmember 4, and supports the trunk cable 40 at a first distance 154 fromthe vertical furcation bracket 60. The angled portion 146 of the trunkcable manager 140 then places the first planar portion 142—to which thetrunk cable 40 is coupled by fastening member 160—at a second distance156 from the vertical furcation bracket 60, wherein the second distance156 is less than the first distance 154, to gradually move the trunkcable 40 toward its connection point with the vertical furcation bracket60. By gradually moving the trunk cable 40 toward vertical furcationbracket 60, unwanted bending of the trunk cable is reduced. Also, theangled portion 146 acts as a back stop to further prevent unwantedbending of the trunk cable 40 in the event of accidental impact by auser or other object.

Further, the trunk cable 40 is secured to the first planar portion 142adjacent to the point where the furcation plug 45 is coupled to thevertical furcation bracket 60 by universal clip 47. Thus, there arereduced torsion or twisting moments produced by the trunk cable 40 onthe universal clip 47. Stated another way, if the trunk cable 40 was notsupported by trunk cable manager 140, the weight of the trunk cable 40would tend to pull it in a generally downward direction, causing thefurcation plug 45 to rotate about axis 162 and/or axis 46. Rotation ofthe furcation plug 45 about axis 162 and/or axis 46, i.e., torsion onthe furcation plug, would lead to stress on the universal clip and riskof breakage or reduced life span. Accordingly, supporting the trunkcable 40 at a point adjacent to that at which the universal clip 47couples the furcation plug 45 to the vertical furcation bracket 60reduces torsion on the universal clip 47 and thus reduces the risk ofbreakage.

Instead of the trunk cable manager 140, the trunk cable manager 200 maybe used in a manner similar to that described above with respect to thetrunk cable manager 140. In the case of the trunk cable manager 200,however, additional fastening members 160 may be used in connection withvertical slots 212 to support the trunk cables 40 as they extendsubstantially vertically along the side of the equipment cabinet 2.

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of thepresent invention, particularly any “preferred” embodiments, are merelypossible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clearunderstanding of principles of the invention. Many variations andmodifications may be made to the above-described embodiments of theinvention without departing substantially from the spirit and principlesof the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended tobe included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the presentinvention and protected by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of routing a cable in an equipmentcabinet to reduce impeded airflow to or from equipment mounted in acentral rack space of an equipment rack in the equipment cabinet, theequipment including a wall with an airflow opening therein, the methodcomprising: supporting a cable at a first point adjacent to the wall andon a first side of the airflow opening; supporting the cable at a secondpoint adjacent to the wall and on a second side of the airflow opening,wherein the first and second points are disposed outside of the centralrack space; and routing the cable from the first point to the secondpoint so as not to cross the airflow opening, wherein such routing stepincludes routing the cable in parallel with the wall and in parallelwith the airflow opening therein; wherein the cable comprises afurcation plug and a furcation leg extending from the furcation plug,wherein the furcation plug is coupled to a furcation bracket at thefirst point and the furcation bracket is coupled to the equipment rack,and further wherein the furcation leg is coupled to a termination panelat the second point and the termination panel is coupled to theequipment rack.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the termination panelfurther comprises an attachment portion disposed in a first plane andcoupled to the equipment rack, a socket mounting portion having asocket, and a coupling portion, the coupling portion coupling the socketmounting portion to the attachment portion so that the socket mountingportion is offset from the first plane, and further wherein thefurcation leg is coupled to the socket.
 3. A method of routing a cablein an equipment cabinet to reduce impeded airflow to or from equipmentmounted in a central rack space of an equipment rack in the equipmentcabinet, the equipment including a wall with an airflow opening therein,the method comprising: supporting a cable at a first point adjacent tothe wall and on a first side of the airflow opening; supporting thecable at a second point adjacent to the wall and on a second side of theairflow opening, wherein the first and second points are disposedoutside of the central rack space; and routing the cable from the firstpoint to the second point so as not to cross the airflow opening,wherein such routing step includes routing the cable in parallel withthe wall and in parallel with the airflow opening therein; wherein thecable comprises a furcation plug and a furcation leg extending from thefurcation plug, wherein the furcation plug is coupled to a furcationbracket at the first point and the furcation bracket is coupled to theequipment rack, and further wherein the furcation leg is coupled to anaccessory bracket at the second point and the accessory bracket iscoupled to the equipment rack.
 4. A method of routing a cable in anequipment cabinet to reduce impeded airflow to or from equipment mountedin a central rack space of an equipment rack in the equipment cabinet,the equipment including a wall with an airflow opening therein, themethod comprising: supporting a cable at a first point adjacent to thewall and on a first side of the airflow opening; supporting the cable ata second point adjacent to the wall and on a second side of the airflowopening, wherein the first and second points are disposed outside of thecentral rack space; and routing the cable from the first point to thesecond point so as not to cross the airflow opening, wherein suchrouting step includes both routing the cable laterally as well asdisplacing the cable vertically in order to avoid crossing the airflowopening; wherein the cable comprises a furcation plug and a furcationleg extending from the furcation plug, wherein the furcation plug iscoupled to a furcation bracket at the first point and the furcationbracket is coupled to the equipment rack, and further wherein thefurcation leg is coupled to a termination panel at the second point andthe termination panel is coupled to the equipment rack.
 5. The method ofclaim 4, wherein the termination panel further comprises an attachmentportion disposed in a first plane and coupled to the equipment rack, asocket mounting portion having a socket, and a coupling portion, thecoupling portion coupling the socket mounting portion to the attachmentportion so that the socket mounting portion is offset from the firstplane, and further wherein the furcation leg is coupled to the socket.6. A method of routing a cable in an equipment cabinet to reduce impededairflow to or from equipment mounted in a central rack space of anequipment rack in the equipment cabinet, the equipment including a wallwith an airflow opening therein, the method comprising: supporting acable at a first point adjacent to the wall and on a first side of theairflow opening; supporting the cable at a second point adjacent to thewall and on a second side of the airflow opening, wherein the first andsecond points are disposed outside of the central rack space; androuting the cable from the first point to the second point so as not tocross the airflow opening, wherein such routing step includes bothrouting the cable laterally as well as displacing the cable verticallyin order to avoid crossing the airflow opening; wherein the cablecomprises a furcation plug and a furcation leg extending from thefurcation plug, wherein the furcation plug is coupled to a furcationbracket at the first point and the furcation bracket is coupled to theequipment rack, and further wherein the furcation leg is coupled to anaccessory bracket at the second point and the accessory bracket iscoupled to the equipment rack.